Is Cedar Key The Best Small Town In Florida? You’ve Never Heard Of It.

Who would have thought this even existed???
So I’m going to show you the sunset and the teeny secret airport and the cool little neighborhoods. We’ll talk about how safe this place is, and of course, get into the drama of how the locals can really get fed up with the tourists and how this place is changin. We’ll also talk about how one time the Columbian drug cartel used this island's airstrip to smuggle in a ton of coke. But I’m going to begin here, in downtown Cedar Key. Well, it’s not much of a downtown. But it’s awesome.
Now where in the world in Florida are we, anyways? We’re on an island, or what people in Florida, call a Key. But this key isn’t in the keys. Everyone knows about those. This little island chain is far far away from that. It’s located here - right off the coast in Levy County. We’re far away from a major city out here. We’re about two hours from Orlando if you drive fast.
There are only about 700 residents who make Cedar Key their home. But I bet there are far fewer people who LIVE HERE live here. That’s because for many of them, this is their second home. But nonetheless, this is a tiny town. If you’ve been watching my series on tiny towns, the goal is to visit small communities and talk about the reality of YOU making a place this small your home. Cause after all, we’re all tired of crime and crowded and expensive.
Why in the world did I pick a small island off the coast of Florida? Because this place has been called the best small town in this state . And I have to say this place is the most unique tiny town I’ve yet to cover. The goal is to see if this is really the best small town in Florida. I wanted to find out - if this place just for rich or retired people? Could you or I move here and realistically create a new life? We’ll find out.
#florida #moving
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[@NickJohnson]

Here's the rest of my entire Florida playlist: Everything About Florida Cities kzbin.info/aero/PLq-_cmf3H6yox4qW3D-Zm5Zen1mSmFWTi

[@donnasuehoward4020]

FYI the smoke stack you see from Cedar Key is the Crystal River power plant. Also the " fan boat " down here we call an Air Boat. Just so you know...

[@dklurf]

You're a better narrator than Morgan Freeman.

[@dudewoods1885]

Your s sound is really suspicious or are your fronts missing? JK I know you're a fruit cake.

[@dudewoods1885]

@Masonic Jewel Your comment doesn't make sense. You're a foreigner, not a Floridian 😂🤣

[@heraldomedrano1417]

Belle Glade

[@texasred2702]

As someone who lives in a rural area about am hour and a half from Austin and is seeing it get "discovered" I bet the good folks of Cedar Key aren't going to be too happy with this video.

[@michaeltischuk7972]

used to live at Ft Hood, that was pretty rural.

[@taxthesocialist2602]

Same thing has happened throughout Pennsylvania. My small town got noticed by city dwellers from NYC and surrounding states and now it's not a small town anymore. They bring their trash politics with them and get mad about the smell of farms. I don't like city dwellers very much....

[@larryn1929]

@@taxthesocialist2602 The people from NY and NJ ruined the Poconos.

[@pauld9561]

Nimby U.S.A.

[@trolleysparks3941]

The ideal place is too expensive and too crowded. The affordable place is so undesirable.

[@ebele4233]

i miss old Florida the small 20 room hotels, small cottage homes everywhere ,everyone barefoot indoors and out , biking , family owned cafes ,not worrying about break ins ,enjoying even sleeping on beach in lounge chairs all night without worrying about being attacked ,definitely miss how it use to be

[@susanjaneterry1073]

You just described my Old Florida town.

[@fishingaddicts4739]

Sounds like my South Miami house.

[@terrancethomas9792]

I went to UF. One of my buddies took me to Greensboro. Not GBO NC, but Greensboro, Florida in the Panhandle. It could have been Alabama or Georgia because it was ultra rural. What’s sad was Greensboro High School. It looked like a green church.

[@trolleysparks3941]

Where can I find it? Not ruined by rich folks and too expensive for middle class/working folks.

[@susanjaneterry1073]

@@trolleysparks3941 Citrus County

[@donnasuehoward4020]

As a Florida native (at least 6 generations), it is very sad to see what has happened to the state in my years... my grandfather and great grandfather had the 1st car in Bradenton. It took them a few days to walk from there to the port of Tampa to get the car. It took them almost two weeks to get back. There were no roads for cars, just horse and buggy trails. And they were not big enough for the car to get through. They literally had to cut the trails wide enough to get the car through. I remember when it seemed to take forever to go from Tampa to Temple Terrance and now they are connected. This was before Disney World. Things have changed so much. I don't go to the Strawberry Festival or State Fair anymore. The last few times I've been, I hear others talk about how it's nothing like what they have where they are from. How their versions are so much better. I don't want to be rude but I'd like to say that is the way it's done here. If you want what you have in your home state go back to those places. It is VERY RUDE of people to comment out loud about how it doesn't hold a candle to their home state. How would they feel if we went to their fairs and Festivals and said out loud how Florida had so much better. I think it's just BAD MANNERS, UNCOUTH AND BAD FORM for VISITORS, TRANSPLANTS OR SNOWBIRDS to say such things. Here in the South we have a saying, " If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all! " IT'S CALLED MANNERS! I don't have anything against VISITORS or TRANSPLANTS, just the way most act. They left their home state to move here because they didn't like it there. Then they come here and want to change it to be like their original state. Florida is being destroyed by people who are doing this. Then you have contractors who bring there building practices with them. Which is great if you want a house that will have sinkhole problems down the road. They fill in the little swamp areas and build on them. You CAN'T AND SHOULDN'T DO THIS. Nine times out of ten you will have a sinkhole or some other kind of disaster happened. May not happen for 20 years or so, but it will happen. Before you know it, there will be no more green left in Florida. It is all being cut down and paved over to make room for new housing. I believe in progress but this is flat out devastation. Here we are trying to save the rain forest and yet we are doing the same time here.

[@Blissfulnessence]

Disney World was built on filled in swamps. I keep wondering when it's going to sink. 🤷‍♀️👀

[@joinjen3854]

It is the same many places. San Diego was great prior to 1990 and it been downhill since.

[@Ocean_breezes]

@Becca Boone Took my RV to Cedar Key for a short weekend vacation. It was after a storm and most of the road going out there was flooded. It was fun, but Cedar Key will never grow very big. There is nothing there at all

[@richardrybicki749]

I'm a cracker. And I hate what's happening they are building on farms that can feed the nation

[@wallywanker7435]

@@richardrybicki749 well someone sold them that land didn’t they ?

[@shawnjackson6242]

Your mentioning of the 1 Black resident spoke volumes! Speaking in humorous tone doesn’t negate from the point you thought was subliminal but yet is was very lucid

[@theniemcmeanie]

Research the Rosewood Massacre and you'll see why

[@shawnjackson6242]

@@theniemcmeanie don’t have to research it learned about long before it was movie pay attention to your older ancestors they know a lot of truth and history that is not in books

[@timmjackson]

Our new Chief of Police is black and there is more than one black resident, maybe half a dozen or so. Admittedly it's a mostly white place though.

[@tammieschaffer4818]

@@theniemcmeanieI thought it was sad that there was nothing more than a sign at Rosewood. I think there should be more of a memorial❣️

[@tampafruitgrower8913]

What you didn't mention is when a small tropical storm blows by, it floods badly. This happens often.

[@jackiejeffries308]

Exactly island living is not for someone not into flooding

[@lindaartz3297]

I have been a Floridian since ‘90 and Cedar Key was our decompress place. We have stayed in the cabins and in a historic hotel downtown. My husband passed and I now live north of Tampa in old area on a canal and love it. I am so glad to see Cedar Key is still old Florida.

[@theniemcmeanie]

I grew up in Cedar Key. My parents left Miami in 1979 and relocated to Cedar Key. I have such fond memories of my childhood. I personally hope Cedar Key doesn't change much more. The local ecosystem cannot survive with a large population. There isn't much for work or rental homes anywhere in the area. Many locals have been there for generations. They simply want to protect the treasure that Cedar Key is

[@gvantassel]

I live in New York - 50 miles N of NYC - in a small village of 760 people known as Village of Nelsonville. And, a village street separating us from the Village of Cold spring (approx. 2500 people) which is along the Hudson River has ONLY one red light and TONS of tourists on the weekends. Pubic school is K - 12 with a graduating class of 66 students. Yeah, we do have the PRIVATE SCHOOLS for the new residents who want the "better" education for their children. Come visit these two small communities/villages and see what the influx of NYC people has done to our once affordable village. Love your videos.

[@maril1379]

Hello I'm in NYC never heard of Nelsonville but Cold Spring sure. I have to go u I to Poughkeepsie tomorrow then a connection to Kingston Yes it's crazy what happens when people invaders place with not the beat of intentions. When people move into an area there has to be a level if respect or should be. Sadly prices get driven up.

[@poetcomic1]

20 years ago I lived in Cold Spring in a tiny two story 140 year old house for which I paid $85,000. I would walk three blocks to the train station and take the train to Manhattan several times a week a relaxing trip entirely. The Hudson River view was sublime,

[@georgehenderson7783]

Hello Gloria! I read your comment then checked a Google map - wow, Nelsonville is really small! Where are the influx of NYC people living? I don't see many homes on the few streets there. Is Juanita's Kitchen operating? It seems it's the only restaurant...

[@skyblu0w0]

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw you featuring Cedar Key! I live in Crystal River, which is only an hour away. We visit the island whenever we get bored around our own cute little town! Cedar Key is fun, love talking to the bartenders and store workers, they’re all very nice and welcoming. Hope the snow birds don’t destroy this little gem like they’ve done to so many parts of Florida. Come visit our little town next time! Love your videos!

[@OffShoreSniper]

Hernando Beach resident here!

[@dianevanderlinden3480]

yeah the snowbirds think they can destroy everything we because we "need their money." Don't get me started.

[@skyblu0w0]

@@dianevanderlinden3480 you’ve got that right!!

[@Bassn1ck]

@@dianevanderlinden3480 look at Clearwater Beach, sucks to be local and not being able to enjoy it.

[@dianevanderlinden3480]

@@Bassn1ck last time I went there took me half an hour to go 2 blocks.

[@ryban1001]

Thank you for bringing back memories! I went to the University of Florida during the mid-1980s and Cedar Key was my gang’s regular getaway spot. Oh the nights!

[@yelizaveta1278]

That sounds pretty great...and memorable. College years getaway break but without the crazy ,wild, troublesome spots that'd be likely assumed. More low key ,relaxed, "partying" & hangout time ;) 👌🏼

[@terrancethomas9792]

I went to UF in the mid ‘80’s too. Because Gainesville is a two-hour drive to Orlando, Tampa, Daytona. You could go anywhere. One time we went to baseball Spring Training. We spent the night at Disney Campground. First time in my life I saw an armadillo. Going to Florida-Georgia games in Jax was really awesome. We beat the Dawgs and ran onto field. People were pulling up grass and yard markers.

[@commonsense6967]

Yeah, same here in the early 1970s. Best seafood restaurant ever was there.

[@stjbananas]

I chose St John USVI 26 years ago and ended up making it my forever home, organic banana farm on a tropical rainforest mountain and all! Great video.

[@drrobertdawson1899]

This Is Where Me And My Friends Ride Our Motorcycles to, Then We Eat And Have A Few Drinks.......GREAT Ride to CEDAR KEY from SUWANNEE COUNTY.

[@lanieparker5730]

I grew up in the area and once worked at one of the restaurants in Cedar Key. Sad to see how it’s been “discovered”….. I have a lot of good memories of my time there.

[@williammoore2982]

Unfortunately hidden jewels get discovered. As previously stated Flagler Co. one of many in Fla.

[@ericg3807]

It's absolutely dead there still. Went there from Jax in early December. Definitely still very quiet seen about 20 people

[@ukulelebutterfly]

Marco Island was a Dream until it became a City. ~ 🦋

[@mrscottswold]

Thanks for bringing the US to the rest of the world and showing us what it is like. Cedar Keys looks delightful. We have similar things here in Australia. Keep up the amazing work Nick. Just fantastic.

[@Mr_CigarJaxGuy]

Nick is a good man and does great videos he truly looks out for us workin folks. However those moving to Florida your money is pushing locals out of the state and none of y’all care. You want to build on pastureland and farms so you can have your coffee or gas 2 minutes away. Understand you will never be accepted by the locals unless you understand the local way of life and mentality. They know you’re from out of state. Respect the locals and understand your dream and passion for florida is forcing them to leave who were there way before you. You love moving to Florida and try to make it like where you came from. Florida locals don’t care about your homestate and don’t care where you’re from.

[@victormendoza2751]

Wah wah wah….quit whining, nobody cares…

[@jacksonmorganfroghin4815]

I'm in Florida now. Been here over 35 years and I want to tell you, everyone I meet is from somewhere else. Mostly the east coast, New York, Jersey, Baltimore, Connecticut and Philly. Mid westerners seem to migrate to the west coast of Florida like Tampa, Naples, Fort Myers and Sarasota. All the the natives have moved on, apparently. Don't know where they went. I did not try to bring my home state vibe down here; I adapted to the South Florida lifestyle. I think it's the best place on Planet Earth. And I've been all over the world and the US. This is the closest thing to Paradise. But it's just a way station til I get to the real paradise. See you up there.

[@williammoore2982]

Sounds like Flagler Co. again. It's happening all over , especially in North Carolina too.

[@helenstrickland4319]

I'm glad you sent out this mesg, but it want do any good for most people today. People do as they please, and now days not a lot of people care about their neighbors anymore. I lived in Jax Fl most my life, married moved away 1 State over for a short time didn't like it at all, and back here and bought a house lived there for 22 years after moving back, cause it wasn't home like Fl even though it was just 1 State over the Fl line, but didn't try to change people there, we just moved back to where we was most happy at. Then we sold our home in Jax 6 mos. before Covid hit in hopes to move farther South to panhandle area to retire and be closer to relatives, but due to having to sign a rental lease cause our home sold so quickly even before Covid, then Covid came and we have been stuck here due to Rise in Housing and big demand from so many people moving in at once, mostly from everything that was going on in northern states, and so many from other countries all at one time, and yes many do want to try and change Fl into where they came from. I'm not against people moving to Fl or any other State, but like you said, don't try to change the people or the State into where you came from, cause most Fl people wouldn't move anywhere else and try to change it to Fl. If people want to move to another State or country that's Great but it's not good to try and change the native people of that State or Country to your way of life. It's easier to Adapt and Respect where you are moving to, or better to move back to what you're already use to. I hope people don't take offense to the comment, not trying to hurt no one feelings, just saying it's easier to adapt and make friends than to try and change people make enemies. Have a blessed day.

[@williammoore2982]

@@helenstrickland4319 Adapt or go back where you came from.

[@wchiwinky]

Another great video Nick! = very thorough and I love the local guests you have each time. Thank You

[@IndianaCrane]

A true Florida gem! Great vid Nick! You do great for the locals-don’t listen to the naysayers about “letting the cat out of the bag”-these places would not exist without tourists!!

[@NickJohnson]

Good point Kim - best fan ever! Did you have fun there? ❤️❤️

[@markwilliams4525]

They were there before the tourists

[@FallacyAsPraxis]

They get PLENTY of tourists. The hotels are frequently booked out. The tourism is different though, its mostly local plus people from the Southern states, and very Conservative.

[@trolleysparks3941]

'not exist without tourists' That is a subject worth discussing. The town would still be there. May be not the bridge. May be not as well groomed with less than ideal roads, sewer, plumbing, street cleaning and amenities. Are they really necessary? Tax money has to come from someplace people. What would the place look like without? A fair question. * What are cars doing on the island? No place to go, just have to park them someplace. Electric carts & bikes work just as well. - Funny.

[@cynthiabyer4874]

Thank you for showing this gem. I lived in Fl. .. never knew about this little town.

[@bernadettegraffeo9995]

As always, great video, NICK!!! NEVER been there, but i do understand how locals feel about their areas....i am living in the same house i was born in 61 years later, and cannot wait to leave here....its not the same, overcrowded, traffic, crime......just sad

[@saraswatkin9226]

Drugs?

[@georgeelder8415]

Everyone of my Native Floridian friends are looking to get out of Florida...

[@richardanderson9957]

A truly unique village, I hope that the residents can maintain the prevailing lifestyle and thank you Nick for bringing us to places where real people live. Your getting great at these gabalogues!

[@NickJohnson]

Wow great one Richard. 🤔

[@abandonedstuff4930]

You're converted me man. I have really wanted to live in a small town since I started watching your videos.

[@NickJohnson]

Do it!!!

[@roxannekane6142]

Me too

[@doctorwebinstein4101]

Great video very entertaining ! You rock Nick thanks for the fun.

[@robertbombace9153]

Great, job Nick. This video really bought me to Cedar Key. I was looking at it on a Florida map sometime ago. And always had wondered about it.

[@NickJohnson]

It's neat!

[@InterstateRaziTV]

Great Video Nick!

[@BillKing3456]

Really nice couple, Nick! And I like your 'bicycle cam' and restaurant shots. Traffic is a great motivator. For me, a good mass transit system is also a big motivator to stay where I'm at, too.

[@NickJohnson]

Mass transit is nice but not when it's a necessity

[@kevinadkins2299]

Thanks for doing this video, I love this little town and hope to visit someday

[@Thismamabear]

This is the best YT channel on all of YT 😂 I'm always chuckling lol and getting to learn about the nice and worst parts of the US lol

[@ExxotikGaming]

I love Cedar Key!!

[@jdozier398]

I love Cedar Key. Used to go a lot in the 70's. My in-laws lived in the armpit of FL, Perry, Taylor County.

[@JonJaeden]

Cedar Key was the terminus of the naturalist John Muir's "Thousand Mile Walk to the Sea" in about 1868. If memory serves, he worked in a local lumber yard while there. He was sickened for quite a while with malaria in Cedar Key and, while recovering, formulated a lot of his ideas about the value and importance of nature for which he would later be well known. I had to drive from Northern California to South Florida last December and made a point of checking out Cedar Key. It definitely has an appeal.

[@jamesmatthews2966]

I love your narration of your videos,, and they are very informative

[@tammieschaffer4818]

Great video❣️ Thanks for sharing. I’m a Florida native, born & bred. My family goes back numerous generations. However, I just made my first weekend trip to Cedar Key last weekend! We rented the Tyson House, an Air B&B on 2nd St, right across from the Historical Museum. We loved it! The shops & restaurants we visited were locally owned. There were no chains on the island. Everyone was very friendly. It’s funny this video popped up on my page. I did view a couple of videos before we went, but I also asked my husband if he could live there while we were visiting 🤷‍♀️🤣🤣.

[@returnofthemac2951]

I went to Cedar Key a couple of years ago. It was a rainy day, so I didn't get to walk around, yet I ate at one of the little restaurants. I was with a relative who came down from North Carolina. It was a cute little town. I will go back some day when the weather is nice.

[@KarlKarsnark]

Florida is FULL!!!! STOP. COMING. WE. DO NOT. WANT. YOU. GO. AWAY.

[@HeatherMerrell]

😂

[@saraswatkin9226]

Pity the native Indians were killed for having that same thought about all the hords of Europe that descended upon it!!!

[@KarlKarsnark]

@@saraswatkin9226 There are no "native Indians" outside of India. As for being killed, yes, welcome to the history of the Human Race. Kill or be killed. Simple as. If any "tourists" would like to try to come kill us, and take OUR land we'll gladly take them up on their offer ;) Come and see......Come and see.....

[@JustinNgim]

Hey Nick! Your channel is awesome!

[@NickJohnson]

Hey Paul

[@sassypants5716]

You had me until you said “snowbirds”. I live in FL and we get inundated with snowbirds and we can’t wait until April, when they leave.

[@NickJohnson]

Easter

[@krista3686]

Mappy definitely answered the question 🙋🏽‍♀️ I had lol

[@maxspurlin2002]

Ditto

[@truediva18]

Exactly! It is not for me. I wonder how that one person feels. They must know that they are alone.

[@maxspurlin2002]

@@truediva18 thank goodness

[@NewHaven203]

Showing the population growth around Orlando and Osceola county would make a great video! This is my favorite geography channel 👌

[@NickJohnson]

Haha that's the video for next week Joe.

[@MrWadsox]

I grew up in Orlando pre Disney. Couldn't wait to get out after the theme parks changed it. Now I'll have to move again. Hopefully to a place like Orlando was in my childhood.

[@jakebalinger7176]

I'm just down the road but haven't visited yet but I'll be seeing y'all soon!!! Love it

[@KCFromTheIE]

There are soooomany layers to FL! It’s such a cool state! ⭐️ vid Nick!

[@youtubealiasoriginal]

This place, Cedar Key looks amazing!

[@DannyWalker247]

Cedar Key just has too many tourist and weekend fishermen clogging it up. If you really want to see something different got to Apalachicola.

[@srcbrain]

came here for this comment.

[@anaibarangan4908]

True it's very Old Florida, but there's not much more to it, it's basically an old oyster fishing village

[@srcbrain]

@@anaibarangan4908 I agree, it's a simple place from a simple time. That being said I felt like it was prettier and had more authenticity than Cedar Key.

[@christinesmith7625]

correct i was there many times i live in inverness 90 miles away

[@joan4380]

Where Where is it located

[@squigglove]

This channel is so informational in a very backhanded manner.

[@joechunis5613]

Nick I do enjoy your time and wo,great job

[@captraykelly]

Great video. Looks like a nice town. Come feature the Village of North Palm Beach as it is the best village in Florida.

[@dianevanderlinden3480]

yes North Palm is nice. Still charming and great restaurants.

[@guitarandotherthings6090]

A very cool laidback town in FL is called "New Smyrna Beach", its near ghetto Daytona but far enough to be safe and have a small hometown feel. Cool nightlife down there but more of a middle age crowd, but still cool.

[@apurugganan]

When my aunt (who's married to an American) took me to that place, she was dozing off in the back seat. It was getting late, but she woke up, looked around, and simply said *You missed a turn back there* It was an annual trip she made for large family gatherings with her children, all grown and married, that she knows the route even in her sleep.

[@akeemthegreat1700]

What do you mean by Ghetto ?

[@guitarandotherthings6090]

@@akeemthegreat1700 Ghetto can be in any city or town anywhere with any demographic where a city is run down and has high crime. Nick uses that phrase all the time so calm down.

[@akeemthegreat1700]

@@guitarandotherthings6090 I am calm sir just asked a question some people use that word very loosely ohh I see black people it must be ghetto smh 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@guitarandotherthings6090]

@@akeemthegreat1700 Stop race baiting, you brought up race, no one else did. Ghetto does not have to be tied to a specific race; there are ghetto white hick areas and ghetto mexican areas, and mix of black white and mexican areas as a melting pot too.

[@brandonsmisek]

im kinda hooked on your videos, you have a way with words.

[@drrobertdawson1899]

MANY People Live Driving Distance From Here......So This Way You Get More For Your Money And Your Close To AWESOME RECREATION.

[@davidletasi3322]

I live about two hours from Cedar Key. We visit about every year since the 1970s. Great restaurants and neat little museums to visit. Still has old town Florida flavor but 3 story highrise waterfront condos have encroached much of the coastal edge. It's busy almost all year long. Ask locals about Rosewood Florida nearby and the body recovered in the Cedar Key Hotel water cistern.

[@howardkerr8174]

I was in a community college with a few people from that area and living less than 2 hours away I have tried to get over that way to " check the place out " but it is quite rural so I gave up before I ever got there. Where I live now is another small Florida town but a handful of people here want to make a ton of money quickly and are trying to get A LOT of housing put in here. I hate real estate speculators.

[@davidgough3512]

Real estate leeches

[@hdmccart6735]

Nick, I love your phrasing! Find these vids so entertaining..

[@kenthespeaker6901]

Fantastic! I loved every minute of this video.☺

[@NickJohnson]

Every one??

[@paulkish007]

I have lived in warm zone nine states California (16 years) Texas (8 years) and Florida (45 years). The few days of very oppressive hard to breath heat in Florida do help keep us humble.

[@latonyalee7821]

I've lived in Texas and currently live in Florida and have learned to stay inside when the heat is unbearable and it isn't as bad as outsiders think.

[@CS-bu9kd]

Lol 🤣 I’m glad mappy told us that because I was just wondering the same thing …!

[@latonyalee7821]

Same here. That seems to be the census in most places such as this. I really would love to live there but as a black woman, I wonder what that would be like. I'll just keep wondering.....lol

[@timmjackson]

@@latonyalee7821 The new Chief of Police is black and there is more than one black person living here. I see several black kids walking when school lets out. That being said, it is definitely whiter than much of Florida.

[@latonyalee7821]

@@timmjackson Thank you. I love living in Florida (Jacksonville) but want to move to a small town as soon as possible.

[@66codered]

Nick Great Job In consulting. I live in Coos Bay, You were right on 100%. Glad I live here

[@NickJohnson]

Oregon?

[@drrobertdawson1899]

You Can See The Cooling Stacks From The Now CLOSED NUKE POWER PLANT ACROSS THE WATER in The Distance. I Used To Haul FLY-ASH ....Low Level Radioactive Waste ...a key Ingredient in Concrete and Concrete Blocks.

[@randys3810]

If you would like to experience more of real rural Florida head Northwest to Highway 98 an experience the "Forgotten Coast"!! Look into towns like Steinhatchee Newport and Spring Creek all of which are completely rural and beautiful old Florida!

[@scottmeyer5120]

What a beautiful little town. Once upon a time the most state was like Cedar Key. I grew up east of Tampa and I have watched the endless push for growth destroy the area. I hope Cedar Key is able to avoid the same fate. Also, was it Flipper with the airboat or Gentle Ben?

[@NickJohnson]

Flipper

[@sharbymj]

Look what we've done to the everglades... Remember Lincoln Vail of the Everglades?

[@chucklima4763]

great video Nick now the cute couple you had in this video they did a great job of explaining how it is down there

[@NickJohnson]

Brian and Lisa are great!

[@jillmorton3096]

Great video Nick...

[@albertsancho5909]

Mappy lol😅, you should do other small towns in North Florida soon like Lake City Gainesville and Crestwood.

[@maryuline2585]

Just a comment, I also live in a small town in California and it is great. I feel safe here. There are like minded people here which is crucial. My husband and I were both born in Los Angeles, but couldn't wait to escape when we retired, as of course that city is not what it was when we grew up. The one thing that bothers me is the health care. There are doctors and dentists here, but if you're really sick and need to go to a hospital, it's 1 hour drive to to a big city. That doesn't seem like much but if you're critically ill that's a really big deal. They will air ambulance you from here if it's really bad, but as I said this is a big concern as we get older. I wonder how many other people have that concern also.

[@traceytrotter9934]

An hour is close enough. Especially worth it if you can afford to live in beautiful California still. Or afford a dentist!

[@malcorub]

People think California is only LA and SF (they forget about San Diego usually). Rural California is awesome Especially in the mountains....except the fire danger in some parts. I live in rural San Diego county.

[@maryuline2585]

@@malcorub Hi you got it right! The fire danger is a problem but we see deer, bobcat, elk everyday. Bears and mountain lions are around here too. The wildlife is incredible plus people have horses donkeys, mules , goats. It's wonderful if you like nature which we do. Way better than seeing freeways and cars, homeless, graffiti and on and on!!!!

[@traceytrotter9934]

@@malcorub I lived in San Diego for 6 years. So nice. Should have stayed, would have figured out a way to afford it.

[@vertihvost7675]

I live in Phoenix Arizona and within last month had to call 911 twice. First time Friday night 7 minutes on hold to get a response from operator, second time Saturday night was at 5 minutes and I just gave up on waiting. They just play recording to only call as an emergency and some other info while you wait. That’s a 6th largest city in the nation and you cannot even get help during heart attack

[@RobertLeva]

LOL I loved your intro song! youd fit right in with our people

[@BARBIEJA4ANDI]

LOVE it! Ive ben there so many times, i couldnt count! I was stationed n Gainesville as a LEO This place was my rehab..

[@traceytrotter9934]

I love the old houses! Way too expensive though.

[@Jonoman777]

to that single black person living there, God bless you sir or ma'am

[@DAFlint-bf3rx]

I used to go here as a kid in the family boat. We would pull up and go have clams that the steamers bar and grill right downtown and the moon was huge one night. It is a great place to pop in and have your catch cooked by locals and then jet out on your boat. We never stayed overnight but we would come regularly as Floridians.

[@danettefunston9763]

Absolutely love cedar key 💕. My favorite getaway of all

[@carmenmonoxide7459]

Mappy answered my question and I'm gonna say, good job. Even Mayberry, NC had at least one. Now, what about the po-po?

[@NickJohnson]

❤️❤️ the po-po is probably some level of corrupt I would imagine.

[@kennethduckworth7111]

Rosewood

[@timmjackson]

The Chief of Police is a black man. Nick and Mappy are wrong. There aren't many black people, but there is more than one.

[@kugelschreiber5678]

Hopefully Cedar Key continues to fly under the radar. You wouldn't want unsavory communities coming over for a cheap vaca and ruining it like the way Miami is.

[@williamliddle4279]

dont worry Ceder Key will always be a hick town, 20 years behind time, cops have cars, just about everyone else has golf cart and ten (10 ) Cats, rats are really Bad! reminded me of georgia after dark

[@timmjackson]

@@williamliddle4279 There are lots of cats on the island. Rats not so much. When you have a lot of cats, you tend to not have many rats.

[@mltheuret]

Hubby and I spend many days in Cedar Key, we flew in from Orlando, thank you for this, it brought back wonderful memories, I miss it so much - wonder if Judys taxi is still running

[@scottcoleman2876]

Was there winter of 73-74 loved it! Has changed a lot!

[@dennynisevic7848]

73 , so how old are you, 127 hahahaaaa

[@ken3923]

It's funny you ask them their thoughts on tourism but that's how they make their living

[@MrWadsox]

Thanks Nick. I may contact you in the future. I've lived in Mount Dora, Fl. for the past 25 years and am now ready to leave. It has been "discovered". Every time I get on the road there's a vehicle about 6" off my rear bumper. I have grown tired of it. I want to stay in Fl. because of the weather but would like fewer people and less noise pollution.

[@edwardyanis1301]

Thanks for the video. I live in Hillsborough Count, where Tampa is, and didn't even though it was so close. I have to this summer.

[@jabbarmuhammad8804]

Small towns like this are really safe place to live just to get away from all the drama and all the noise of the city piece and quiet I like that

[@Matt_from_Florida]

24:10 Key West greatly limited what cruise ships are allowed. Any ship with a capacity of 1,300 or more persons can only dock at Pier B (what the locals call 'The Navy Pier'), and only one at a time.

[@drillsgtdad9371]

We have alligators 🐊 here not crocodiles 😂

[@l.plzsavethebeez485]

OMG THOSE COTTAGES ARE AWESOME! I'm going to stay there!

[@maril1379]

Very interesting I never heard of Levy County or Cedar Key. Looks very nice and clean. Interviews on your videos are great. Thumbs up. Thumbs up.

[@NickJohnson]

Cool Cool

[@tjones617]

I bet you never heard of Rosewood either. I wonder why

[@PorkChopJones]

This has a feel like a larger version of Gilligan's Island albeit attached to the mainland and with more people of course. I think it's a nice place to visit to get away from the rat race. But as far as moving there, it's a little too small. But I can see the appeal it would have for some people. It is a little like Mayberry... just sit back and relax. You know what I think I'm going to do? Go down to the gas station and get a bottle of pop! Yep, that's what I'm going to do........ go down to the filling station and buy myself a bottle of pop! Yessir! I'm gonna get up and walk down to the station....etc.

[@trolleysparks3941]

"little like Mayberry" OK, So What is wrong with that?

[@bobbysmith5642]

Cedar Key was going to be Tampa. They told HB Plant that his railroad was not welcome. The rest is history.

[@briangriffith2394]

thanks Nick that was great

[@jaypees.8766]

Very nice island. Very tranquil and happy to live in. Its nice to live in small town away from crazy things going on in city. Get close to nature, to nice people in the community. I envy of people who lives there.😍☺️❤️ I hope this place will remain as it is. People dont turn this place to tourists spot.. keep it as a small quiet town

[@anaibarangan4908]

There's a lot of underdeveloped Old Florida out of cities along The Gulf of Mexico Coast. Pensacola and keep East towards South. The secret is go on old two lane highways exploring, instead of the newer four and six lanes. There's so much of miles and miles of practically nothing but green and green and green, and maybe some dwellings and businesses. Years ago took my three children on one of those adventures. Have to get regular road maps of Florida, or road Atlases. Triple A is great about that if still have one near anywhere that are in the USA.

[@NickJohnson]

There's less of that now.

[@Bassn1ck]

@@NickJohnson yup alot less, the panhandle and south to crystal river then its boom population everywhere.

[@gordonfry2644]

I visited Cedar Key last summer as a last resort on a botched day trip to some springs. I had seen it on a map and was curious. I also had heard about the palm heart salad made with ice cream at the Island Hotel so my sister and I thought we would go check it out. I wans't expecting much and I was really surprised at how cool the town was. It was like the Keys but very local. Maybe Im being too naive but I think its unlikely it will become a tourist trap just because of how far it is from everything. Its almost 2.5 hours from Tampa and Orlando so its a bit of a hike to visit a small town.

[@mrmoneytime5855]

nice work man from every point view 👌👌 best ch on youtube..............

[@Scoobshighlights]

This is so cool I live in Ocala and go here all the time to fish I have been for years also great kayaking etc it's amazing here

[@Skipjack7814]

Interstate 75 to Miami was completed in 1963. The "wall unit" A.C. became accessible to the working population in 1963. By '66 the population of Florida had tripled, and its been growing.

[@JC111WPB]

I’m pretty sure AC in Florida started in the 1950’s but yeah AC that’s what did it.

[@Skipjack7814]

Probably started in the 50s but became accessible to the 'working masses! In the early 60s. Rural communities- my elementary school only had fans and lots of windows in the early 70s!

[@Skipjack7814]

In fact, I still hear Crackers say that air conditioning ruined Florida, but I dont accept that sir. 😃

[@JC111WPB]

@@Skipjack7814 My dad was a GC who built many houses in WPB. He built our house in 1962 with central HVAC. Window units were around for at least 10 years before that.

[@Skipjack7814]

Yes sir, very much so sir! I guess it was mostly the interstate being completed in '63 that helped triple Floridas population. I had seen a documentary about 'innovations' once that talked about A.C, but i probly misunderstood it. I stand corrected sir

[@OffShoreSniper]

Cedar key is one of the best places to visit for a day or so. There’s not much besides restaurants and fishing. I drive by boat from Hernando beach to cedar key frequently. Nick if you want to go fishing while you’re here holler at me!

[@NickJohnson]

Ok Scott. What would we catch?

[@OffShoreSniper]

@@NickJohnson well it’s fishing, so I can’t answer that with absolute certainty. 😬 But we could definitely target grouper & mangrove snapper. Forewarning, normally when I invite someone I only catch a few grunts! Hahaha LMK 👍🏼

[@buzzanderson6217]

This was very nice to see. Englewood is really nice as well as over priced right now but there is a lot of room for more commercial businesses as well and a need for affordable housing for young people in the service industry.

[@mattcaruso8711]

Had to drop a like as always. Great content.

[@NickJohnson]

Hey Matt!

[@honeybfly2010]

I think living in a small town that no one has really heard of is great! And Florida seems like a nice state too…compared to my state. My state starts with a “C” and ends in an “A”…annnnd most other states hate us moving to theirs. Can’t say I blame ‘em though. Lol

[@NickJohnson]

Not ALL people from your state are insufferable!

[@blueballsmcgee6277]

California's are the only ones with MONEY 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰!!!!! Don't WASTE IT IN THIS DUMP!!! How much they pay you NICKO, to say good thing's about this place????? When most of the people think of Florida they think, METH, MISSING TEETH, CORRUPTION, TRAILER PARK'S, SCAM'S, HUMIDITY etc.etc etc. C'mon Nicko, you've SOLD OUT ALONG TIME AGO. NICKO'S PROBABLY A COMMIE!🤡

[@taraschumacker]

@@NickJohnson just most 😆 I kid I kid (not really)

[@GOD_IS_REAL]

"c" aliforni 'a'....The Land of Fruits and Nuts

[@elliebellie7816]

Come visit some day and you will see how un-nice this state really is. Nothing but crowds, traffic, crime, high taxes (had a look at the cost of homeowner's insurance recently), poor schools, poor quality housing subdivisions going up everywhere, nowhere to park, poverty, nothing but super expensive high-rise hotels and condos taking up every square inch of shoreline. Then there's the climate - hot, sweaty, sticky, muggy humid heat for 9-10 months a year, rain for days, flooding, and everywhere you go mosquitos, chiggers, fleas, hand-sized roaches, snakes and gators everywhere. And don't get me started on the annual love bug infestation....

[@conservativehippie9736]

You should never have done a video on Cedar Key! That is a secret how beautiful and calm and peaceful and safe it is. oh no Nick that's my escape area!!

[@NickJohnson]

Sorry!

[@conservativehippie9736]

@@NickJohnson it's ok...but next time ....lol!!!

[@stevepope6095]

Wow I have been trying to get to Cedar key for years . Thanks for the vid, I have told many people about this place and no one has heard of it. Supposed to be very nice and at the time affordable to stay , unfortunately , by the time I can get there , it may be pricey to find a place to stay. Family Caregiver here.... 🙁.

[@willisjefferson5886]

Another Gem Nick

[@shirleygriffin7672]

I was born and raised in Florida, so I know about Cedar Kay, tiny town

[@traviskean7118]

@Ozi Bits lol..... I hope not

[@notyouagain7220]

@Ozi Bits what lol everywhere in fla is lgbt friendly unlike democrat states like cali and nyc etc

[@notyouagain7220]

@Ozi Bits I live in Florida and go to church every Sunday lol

[@KeepNitReal1980]

Please stay in the city and leave my small town alone! My closest neighbor is a few 100 yards away and I like it that way.

[@THESTAATS]

Great videos Nick.

[@juderickman8275]

Beautiful. I lived one winter in Key West back in the 70s and this does remind me of Key West back then. Looks like Cedar Jey is still nice now but too expensive

[@latonyalee7821]

The sneaky way of keeping certain people out. There should be affordable housing required everywhere. Just another form of discrimination.